瑪莉亞颱風(Maria)於 2018 年 7 月 3 日於關島東南方海面生成，從 5 日至 6 日，其強度迅速增強進入快速增強(Rapid Intensification; RI)過程，並於 RI 結束後不到 24 小時便進行了一次眼牆置換。本研究利用 WRF 模式搭配歐洲中期天氣預報中心 (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast;ECMWF)之 ERA5 全球模式資料為初始場，同時利用颱風動力初始化方式，分析瑪莉亞颱風 RI 過程以及結構變化。
模擬結果顯示， RI 的發展主要受到內外兩對流區強度的影響。在 RI 開始前，內核區高層的對流活動，以及較低的環境垂直風切,使得潛熱能夠有效釋放，形成高層暖心結構，進而使颱風中心最低氣壓下降，高層暖心與中心最低氣壓之間的正回饋，有效提高颱風的強度,使颱風進入 RI階段。在 RI 後期，即便颱風對流強度沒有顯著的減弱，但是由於強對流活動主要集中在外圍，能量無法有效傳遞至內核區，導致內核區對流減弱，使得高層暖心結構無法維持，颱風強度停止增強。
為瞭解海表溫度以及海表通量傳輸對於 RI 的影響，本研究進行改變海溫以及改變海表通量計算方式之敏感度實驗。結果顯示，當海溫降低2°C 以上時，不會發展 RI 。當海溫降低1°C 時，依舊會發展 RI ，但是受限於海表熱通量不足及垂直結構傾斜等影響，高層暖心結構以及 RI 持續時間較短。當海溫增加1°C 時，颱風強度不論是在 RI 前、中、後都有更為顯著的增強，高層暖心結構更能夠維持，且垂直結構較不為傾斜。而改變海表通量計算方式，使得海表面阻力減小以及海表向上傳輸的熱通量增加，對於 RI 後期的增強更為顯著，且高層暖心結構更為明顯。

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